Another new element is the introduction of elective subjects. Now students can pick up subjects of choice and dedicated time has been allotted for self-directed learning and co-curricular activities

New Delhi: In an era, where medical advancements and breakthroughs take place almost daily, our MBBS students have been studying a curriculum that is at least two decades old. After much procedural delays and debates, the new MBBS curriculum will finally see the light of the day as the Medical Council of India Board of Governors have given their nod for the same. The new curriculum is expected to roll out nationally from the academic year 2019-20.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the new curriculum had been finalised and was awaiting the confirmation of the MCI general body. With the MCI being dissolved recently and the charge being handed over to the newly appointed Board of Governors, all eyes were upto the BOG to make the final call.

Tribune reports that on Friday, the Medical Council of India finalised the new curriculum after the Board of Governors has approved the document which revisits the 1997 syllabus in the context of emerging diseases and scientific advances.

The new syllabus which had been drafted by the ertwhile academic council which was led by Dr Ved Prakash Mishra is called the Competency Based Integrated Curriculum for UG Medical Education and aims to instil a practical based training approach to medical education, with students getting practical exposure from the very first year

Via this New MBBS Curriculum, apart from their usual syllabus and training, the MBBS students will also be trained in communication skills. In addition, to familiarize medical students to the MBBS programme first, instead of them jumping into the medical subjects, a two-month foundation course proposed by the medical council has also been added in the New MBBS curriculum.

For the first time, the MBBS course will see the introduction of elective subjects

“Another new element is the introduction of elective subjects. Now students can pick up subjects of choice and dedicated time has been allotted for self-directed learning and co-curricular activities,” Dr VK Paul, MCI BoG Chairman told The Tribune.

The new curriculum also encourages, in a first, the use of medical mannequins and models for clinical learning, even though the use of human cadavers for anatomy training will continue.

The move has been taken in order to set change to the old course which is considered to be deeply dependant on theory classes. Officials from the MCI said that didactic classes will be reduced to a minimum once this course initiates.

“The new MBBS curriculum has a course called Attitude, Ethics and Communication (AETCOM) which will run across years. Students will be assessed for how they communicate with patients; how they counsel people for organ donations or other challenging procedures; how sensitively do they offer care and obtain consent. All these things will count along with competencies and skills,” Dr VK Paul, MCI BoG Chairman told The Tribune.

“The new UG curriculum regulations are more learner-centric, patient-centric, gender-sensitive, outcome-oriented and environment appropriate. The result is an outcome-driven curriculum which conforms to global trends.”